Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Deksinclair’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Deksinclair’, characterized by its single-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped, white-colored ray florets with red purple-colored longitudinal stripes; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Deksinclair’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Deksinclair’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new single-type Chrysanthemum cultivars with unique ray floret coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Nov. 13, 2003 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 40693, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 02.6868.02, not patented. The cultivar Deksinclair was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on April 11, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since May, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Deksinclair have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Deksinclair’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Deksinclair’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Single-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped,         white-colored ray florets with red purple-colored longitudinal         stripes.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about         seven weeks after the start of photoinductive treatments.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance         for about three weeks in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller leaves than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more freely flowering         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about one week earlier         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent         selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female         parent selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more vigorous than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller leaves than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more freely flowering         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about one week earlier         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent         selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Artist, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Artist in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering         than plants of the cultivar Artist.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer         and narrower ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the         cultivar Artist.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Artist         differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar         Artist had more and broader stripes than plants of the new         Chrysanthemum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Deksinclair’ grown as a spray type.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet are close-up views of the upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘Deksinclair’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about nine weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     Deksinclair. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 40693,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number             02.6868.02, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About six to seven days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 14 to 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description/habit.—Fine; light brown in color; freely             branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a spray-type. Vigorous growth             habit.         -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 70             cm to 80 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Texture:             Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 146A to             146B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 6 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm to 7 cm. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed;             dentate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent,             rough, leathery; veins prominent on lower surface. Color:             Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: Close to 137C to 137D. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker than 137A; venation,             close to 146A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close             to 137A to 137B; venation, 146B. Petiole: Length: About 5 mm             to 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with elongated             oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals, arising from leaf axils. Ray and disc florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not             fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness). Early and uniform flowering             response; plants exposed to two weeks of long day/short             night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive             short day/long night conditions flower about seven weeks             later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,             inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and             substance for about three weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—When grown as a spray type,             freely flowering habit, about 40 inflorescences per             flowering stem develop.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm to 8 cm. Depth             (height): About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 7 mm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Oblate. Height: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Close to 137D.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Width: About 1 cm             to 1.3 cm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Aspect: Mostly flat.             Apex: Rounded to tridentate. Base: Attenuate. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 20 to 22 arranged in a single whorl.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 155D;             longitudinal stripes, 70A. When opening, lower surface: 69D;             longitudinal stripes, 70B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 155D; longitudinal stripes, 70B. Fully opened,             lower surface: 69D; longitudinal stripes, close to N74D.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 4 mm             to 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 240. Color: Immature: Apex: 145A.             Mid-section: 151A to 151B. Base: 145D. Mature: Apex: 151B.             Mid-section and base: 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length, first peduncle: About 4.5 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             About 30° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:             Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma length: About             5 mm. Stigma width: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.             Stigma color: Close to 145C to 145D; towards the apex,             yellow orange in color.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under     commercial conditions. 

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Deksinclair’ as illustrated and described. 